Sheffield United have refused to give up on signing Nottingham Forest's Dexter Blackstock and they will enquire about his availability again in the near future, Nigel Clough has explained.

Blades had a loan bid accepted by Forest earlier this week, but Blackstock felt that the move wasn't right for him and rejected their approach.

It would have been enough to make other sides turn their attentions to different targets, but Clough is refusing to take no for an answer and he wants to convince Blackstock to move to Bramall Lane.

The Blades boss says that he will submit a second offer for the Forest forward next week and hope that the lure of first-team football will be enough to convince him to agree to a temporary move.

"We keep asking and will go back next week and see if he has changed his mind," he said to the Sheffield Telegraph. "As the week goes on, and it gets closer to the window closing on Thursday, it may change.

“I don’t think it’s that players don’t want to play, they just want to play at that certain level."

The drop to League One football is obviously something that Blackstock does not feel he wants to take, but it could be a good move for him.

The 28-year-old has only made one appearance for the Reds this season and his chances at the City Ground look limited.

Stuart Pearce's men have one of the most intimidating forward lines in the Championship, with the likes of Britt Assombalonga, Michail Antonio and Matty Fryatt all ahead of Blackstock in the selection order.

At Bramall Lane, though, he would likely be a key player due to the Blades' struggles to find a potent front-man.

John Verrall

John is a sports journalism graduate from Staffordshire University. He is a huge football fan and a minute-by-minute writer for UEFA.com, as well as being a freelance writer for Sports New Media. John has also seen his work been published by the likes of The Guardian, World Soccer and Shoot Magazine over the course of his bourgeoning journalism career so far. He has a particular expertise in all things to do with the Football League – and is a passionate Peterborough United fan.